“It’s already July, and I’m nowhere close to what I hoped for this year.”
A client told me last week during a coaching session; she was brutally honest.
I’ve heard some version of this from almost every leader I’ve worked with in the past month.
Many people let the year happen to them. January’s intentions get buried under Q1 demands. Strategic vision gets clouded by daily fires. Before they know it, December arrives with a mix of exhaustion and “where did the time go?”
They’re not stuck because they’re unmotivated. They’re stuck because time keeps moving – and they haven’t had a real pause to reflect or reset.
Today, July 2nd, is the exact midpoint of the year.
182 days behind us. 182 still ahead.
The first half is gone.
And whether it went by in a blur, a storm, or a slow burn – this moment is still wide open. You can’t rewind the year. But you can still change the direction you’re heading.
Where Most Leaders Go Wrong
They don’t stop. They push through.
They wait for a quieter season, a better week, some mythical “later.”
But the brain doesn’t reset under pressure.
It needs space. A pattern break.
What if you approached the second half of the year differently?
In neuroscience, this is called a “salient interruption” – a moment that breaks the automatic loop and creates room for reflection.
This time of the year gives you that opportunity. Consider the mid-point of the year as nature’s intermission – a break in the annual rhythm that most people ignore.
You don’t need to judge your first-half performance or frantically try to catch up on abandoned goals.
You can use the midpoint to evolve your approach based on what you’ve learnt in the first half, and recalibrate for the second half. Here’s how in these 5 steps below:
1. The Three-Column Clarity Check
Draw three columns in your notebook:
- What worked so far (and why?)
- What didn’t work (and what did I learn?)
- What’s still unclear?
This helps your brain connect experience to learning – not judgment.
2. Clear Space to Move Forward
The first half probably left behind some extra weight:
- Commitments you’ve outgrown
- Habits that no longer fit
- Conversations you’ve avoided
- Roles you’re playing out of habit, not choice
Ask:
- What am I keeping out of guilt or fear?
- Where am I leaking time, energy, or attention?
- What do I actually want more of right now?
You don’t need to burn everything down. You just need to make space for what matters next.
3. Set 3 Intentions for the Second Half
Think of these as anchors — not pressure points. Choose one for each pillar:
- Clarity: What do I want to understand or decide?
- Confidence: How do I want to show up?
- Connection: Which relationship deserves more of me?
Intentions shift your presence. And that shift changes how you lead.
4. Audit Your Energy
Look at your calendar. Zoom out.
Ask for each block:
- Does this fuel or drain me?
- If I weren’t already doing this, would I choose it now?
- What tiny shift here could free up space or spark energy?
Your brain doesn’t need a total overhaul. It just needs a few signals that things are changing, and worth paying attention to.
5. Look at Who’s Around You
Transformation doesn’t happen alone.
Think about this:
- Who helps me hear the truth without shame?
- Who reminds me of what I’m capable of?
- Who challenges me to grow, not just stay busy?
Reinforce those connections. Minimize the ones that pull you back into old patterns.
A Mid-Year Practice Worth Trying
Take an hour this week. Put away your devices. Grab a notebook. Sit with this:
- What have I learned about myself as a leader in the first half?
- What do I want the second half to feel like?
- What’s one decision I’ve been avoiding — that would create real momentum?
Then do one thing. Change one meeting. Start one habit.
Say one thing out loud you’ve been holding back.
That’s enough to begin. It will bring in the momentum you need to move forward.
Before You Scroll On
Mid-year is a checkpoint. A chance to look at where you are — and choose what comes next.
It’s the right time to get honest, realign, and move forward with more clarity and courage.
And the best part is…
You don’t have to do it alone.
Motivation can get you going, but it rarely gets you all the way.
If you’re ready to make a more expansive shift in a short amount of time – not just in what you do, but in how you show up – coaching can help you get there faster, with more intention.
🔗 Use this link to explore the next steps with clarity and intention.
What one shift would make the biggest difference in how you lead, connect, or show up this second half? I’d love to hear it.
